1912-13.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 171 



of Dundee's many famous nurseries — Lilybank — and after- 

 wards was Superintendent of Hampton Court Gardens, 

 London, Gardiner gives in versified form a hint of the 

 ground he covered in his journeyings. 



INVOCATION TO A SCOTTISH FRIEND IN LONDON, 

 WHILE SUFFERING UNDER ILL-HEALTH. 



Again the summer's gladdening smile 

 Beams upon our native isle ; 

 And the fields are gay with flowers, 

 And amidst the verdant bowers 

 Love triumphant holds his reign, 

 While his voice, in joyful strain, 

 Makes the welkin ring again. 

 Wandering now in woodland green, 

 Where the rarest flowers are seen 

 Hiding from the vulgar eye — 

 Oft, my dearest friend, do I 

 Wish that thou my joy could'st share, 

 When I meet with blossoms rare : 

 And, methinks, the air so bland 

 Of thy healthful fatherland, 

 Might thy drooping powers restore 

 To their vigorous tone of yore. 



If 'tis city's baleful breath 

 That hath brought thee nigh to death, 

 Why not leave it for a time, 

 And, in more congenial clime, 

 Breathe the air that can renew 

 Steady pulse and rosy hue .' 

 Might'st thou not with me explore 

 Scenes thou never traced before ? 

 Scenes of grandeur that impart 

 Lofty impulse to the heart ; 

 And, amid the mountains hoar, 

 Listening to the cataract's roar, 

 Spend the happy Jidy time, 

 AVooing Flora in her prime. 

 Might we not, from Ben Venue, 

 Gaze on Katrine's waters blue ; 

 Or in Trossach's rugged dell, 

 Seek the flowers thou lov'st so well 1 

 Come ! Ben Ledi's lofty brow, 

 Is with bloom encircled now ; 

 And the sweetest breezes play 

 Round the lovely Loch Achray. 

 Come ! the forests swell with sound 

 Of warbling love, and all around 

 Breadalbane's giant mountains rear 

 Their independent heads, and wear 

 Their summer robes of beauty bright ; 

 And Flora's votaries invite 

 To banquet of supreme delight. 



